Chapter Forty-Eight: Crimson Finances

"Is everything ready?" At the routine morning meeting, after hearing Luo Wuyan's report, Zhu Lan turned to ask Lan Tianxin.

Lan Tianxin picked up the file, stood, and flipped through it. "All arrangements for the press conference are in place. We've sent invitations to seven hundred major media outlets worldwide. One hundred thirty-six of them replied on the same day, confirming they’ll send reporters to the event."

"One hundred thirty-six? That’s much better than I expected!" Zhu Lan was very pleased; she had thought fifty would be a good turnout.

Lan Tianxin rolled her eyes, long accustomed to her boss’s unpredictable behavior.

"Boss, although the gene optimization serum news has been pulled from the headlines, there’s still intense debate online. Especially on foreign websites, some people from biotech firms are accusing us of making empty promises and deceiving the public, urging the government to censure Fantasia Tech."

"And the result?"

Lan Tianxin waved her hand dismissively. "Much ado about nothing. The authorities won’t act against Fantasia Tech. Some tried to cause trouble for the company, but Major Xiao handled them."

Zhu Lan nodded. "Alright, since that’s settled, step up preparations for the press conference. Make it grand. What’s happening in District 3?"

"District 3? Boss, do you mean—"

Zhu Lan nodded. "It seems you’re ready. Hold the press conference in District 3! Any other issues?"

Lan Tianxin shook her head. "Understood. I’ll have everything moved over right away."

"Does anyone else have any business?" Zhu Lan glanced around the room.

"Boss, there’s one more thing!"

"Speak!"

"The company’s finances are starting to show signs of overspending. I’m concerned—"

Zhu Lan frowned at Lan Tianyuan. "Anything else?"

Everyone shook their heads.

"In that case, let’s adjourn. Lan Tianyuan, come to my office."

"Sit down," Zhu Lan invited Lan Tianyuan.

"How much has the company overspent lately? How much is left in the accounts?"

Lan Tianyuan smiled wryly and handed over a document. "This is the ledger of our recent expenses."

Zhu Lan picked it up. Even though she’d been prepared, the figures stunned her.

She set the ledger aside and looked up at Lan Tianyuan. "Tell me, how much is left in the company’s account?"

"We have less than seventy million left. After deducting the upcoming costs for the press conference and the agency summit, once those are over, we’ll be left with less than ten million. At that point, the company won’t last two months—we’ll be facing a cash crisis!"

Zhu Lan frowned. How could the money be burned through so quickly?

"Have all payments for raw materials been made?"

"They have. That money was paid out two weeks ago. Our team is collecting the goods, and in about five days, the materials will arrive at the city port."

"Running a deficit." Zhu Lan sighed. She rarely managed the company herself, but crisis left her unfazed.

Lan Tianyuan remained silent, waiting for Zhu Lan’s decision.

"Alright, I’m aware now. You’ve managed finances well. Don’t worry about the money—follow the original plan. The press conference and the agency summit must go ahead."

Lan Tianyuan nodded. "But boss, we don’t have extra funds to pay the factory district right now."

Zhu Lan waved her hand. "I’ll handle that. I’ll speak to the Shengtang people personally. That payment can wait."

With Zhu Lan’s assurance, Lan Tianyuan could only acquiesce.

"Are the necessary allocations made?"

"Funds are allocated for two months. For the factory district, as you said, we can defer that payment. As long as we don’t add new projects, the company can last two months."

"Good. You may go."

Lan Tianyuan nodded and left. As soon as he was gone, Kong Yan entered and stood by Zhu Lan’s side.

"Is there a problem?" Zhu Lan leaned back in her chair, sipping tea.

"There is."

Zhu Lan frowned. "What’s the situation?"

"The gene optimization serum brought in seven hundred forty million in Europe. Allocations for Districts 1 and 2 construction total four hundred eighty million. Equipment allocations are one hundred thirty-seven million. Raw materials, ninety-four million. Other company expenses, one hundred fifty-six million. Secret materials, thirty-four point eight two million."

"So?" The numbers indicated a small sum was missing.

Lan Tianyuan oversaw finances, but he wasn’t alone—thirty-six people in the department tracked expenditures and allocations. Everything should be accounted for, yet several million were missing.

"Where did the money go?" Zhu Lan wasn’t angry. A few million was once unfathomable to her; even the seven hundred million earned from the serum’s European launch had barely registered.

"According to account flows, Fang Yan diverted the funds—he bought a house and a car, spending four million six hundred eighty thousand."

"Is that so? Notify HR and hand him over to the police."

"Yes." Kong Yan left to take care of it. Zhu Lan stood and walked into another room.

The room was empty except for a model at its center.

Looking at the model, Zhu Lan smiled.

It was the overall model of Fantasia District.

It included a nine-story office building as large as a football field, four six-story research buildings, and four enormous factory districts.

Currently, only a fifth was under construction.

The office building’s foundation wasn’t even laid yet; excavation was ongoing. Of the planned four research buildings, only one was being built, with the rest still in the planning stage. Two of the four factory districts had begun construction; the other two remained untouched.

This model, crafted by Kong Yan at Zhu Lan’s request, was a full-scale representation of her vision.

Few knew of it. No one realized just how grand Zhu Lan’s conception for Fantasia District was.

Building all nine projects would barely fit on the land allotted by the state, which included five mountains at Canglan Base.

Zhu Lan would never touch those mountains. There, she planned to build thirty to fifty villas exclusively for company executives, disguising the underground Canglan Base.

Where the leadership lived above would be a massive base below—this was Zhu Lan’s plan.

Originally, she had wanted to disguise it as a research zone, but that risked scrutiny. After much deliberation, she decided to build a villa district to reward senior staff and contributors.

This way, all executives would be under her watch. With them present, no one would suspect that hundreds of meters underground lay a vast base.

Land was scarce; many projects couldn’t proceed.

More importantly, the total construction cost would reach forty billion.

And the company didn’t even have ten billion.

Zhu Lan could only abandon some plans.

The greatest centerpiece was the office building. Zhu Lan intended it to be a futuristic, sci-fi marvel, entirely controlled by intelligent systems and capable of accommodating one hundred thousand staff.

But Kong Yan’s calculations showed its construction would cost twenty-nine billion, and more space would be needed for servers and infrastructure.

Office buildings, research labs, factories, even villas—all required money to operate.

In the future, this would be a conglomerate’s headquarters.

"Looks like I need to revise the plans." Zhu Lan studied the model, deep in thought.

Her hands moved over the model, measuring and imagining.

This prompted her to recall a long-neglected issue: housing.

Since the economic reforms, what’s been the biggest capital market in China? Stocks? No. Real estate.

In places like Magic City and Yan Capital, a white-collar worker couldn’t afford even a restroom within the third ring after a year’s work. Real estate enriched countless people, but made buying a home the nation’s greatest challenge.

The city was only second-tier, but it was coastal, with some of the province’s finest scenery. Especially after the completion of Fengluan, the city gained another scenic highlight.

The local government had plans for a new coastal district, aiming for a vast tourism hub rivaling Sanya.

Thus, property prices here rivaled those in top-tier cities—a three-bedroom apartment in the city center cost three to five million.

Seaside villas started at eight million.

Soon, a luxury villa cluster would be completed, becoming the city’s wealthy enclave.

Before Zhu Lan obtained the Fantasia System, she too had saved for a home, but the ever-rising prices had left her disheartened.

Now, she had only considered the needs of senior staff, forgetting those of the middle and lower ranks.

Of course, Fantasia Tech didn’t yet need to address this, but Zhu Lan must plan ahead.

Building staff reward housing was essential for future growth. To become a major player, Fantasia Tech needed to win the loyalty of every employee.

Housing was the best way to capture their hearts.

Concentrated living would also strengthen the company’s sense of collective honor and belonging.

"Here? Too small."

"Here? The location isn’t ideal."

Zhu Lan scrutinized the model, torn. Her future plans called for a workforce of seventy to one hundred thirty thousand. The demand for staff housing would be enormous, requiring construction in phases. Even considering only the first phase, Zhu Lan was troubled—there was simply no space.